Spicheren is not only known for its corn. On August 6, 1870, the Battle of Spicheren took place here, a decisive moment in the Franco-Prussian War. On that day, on the grass just below this scene of this photo, over 1,000 men lost their lives and around 5,000 were wounded. When the Germans later occupied Lorraine, they erected several monuments on the site of the battle, including this one from the 39th Infantry Regiment. As the village web site points out, they must have employed a French stone mason: he made several spelling errors such as Officiere instead of Offiziere.

Remembrance is indeed important and necessary! Unfortunately, these types of memorials aren't effective. In my book, it's too festive and heroic! I think ruins are a much better reminder what war really means.

Buenos Aires Photoblog: This monument was erected by the German occupiers a few years after the battle and I think it was, indeed, intended to salute the heroic warriors and not to shock people out of waging war. If it was the latter, it certainly did not work. The river of blood that flowed on the grass underneath this monument was not the end of Franco-German military rivalry. It was just the first instalment. It would take two world wars and over 70 million dead to finally put paid to that.

Photos before 2010-02-11 were taken with a Nokia N95, photos between 2010-02-12 and 2010-12-20 with a Sony Ericssion Satio, photos after that with an HTC Desire HD. Photos on 2010-02-11 and 2011-02-01 were taken with two phones.